{"id":352911,"date":"2022-08-19T07:42:53","date_gmt":"2022-08-19T12:42:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/immigration\/visas\/warning-fraudulent-diversity-lottery-websites.html"},"modified":"2023-11-17T14:10:26","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T19:10:26","slug":"warning-fraudulent-diversity-lottery-websites","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/immigration\/visas\/warning-fraudulent-diversity-lottery-websites.html","title":{"rendered":"Diversity Visa Fraud: Beware of Visa Lottery Scams"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Diversity Visa Fraud: Beware of Visa Lottery Scams<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Lyle Therese A. Hilotin-Lee, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Meagan Neil, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
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Diversity Visa scams often involve fake websites or emails pretending to be official government sources to trick applicants into paying fees or sharing personal information. The DV Program itself is legitimate, but the U.S. Department of State never guarantees selection, charges application fees, or emails winners. Knowing the warning signs of fraud and relying only on official .gov websites can help protect you from these scams.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Scammers may claim to be affiliated with the U.S. Department of State’s annual Diversity Visa Lottery. sending letters and emails posing as U.S. government agencies. Some of these sites are engaging in diversity visa scams, hoping to extract payment by taking advantage of immigrants.<\/p>\n

The U.S. government advises all applicants to be familiar with information related to diversity visas<\/a>. They are encouraged to review the procedures and rules for the DV program to understand what to expect and from whom they should expect communications. This article will help you understand visa lottery scams and how to avoid them.<\/p>\n

Visa diversity applicants must meet strict submission requirements to qualify. Experienced\u00a0immigration attorneys<\/a> can help you avoid scams and mistakes on your application.<\/p>\n

Is the Diversity Visa Program a Scam?<\/h2>\n

No. The\u00a0Diversity Immigrant Visa Program<\/a>\u00a0is a legitimate government initiative managed by the U.S. Department of State. It gives foreign nationals from eligible countries with low immigration rates to the United States the chance to obtain a green card or an immigrant visa.<\/p>\n

Every year,\u00a050,000 diversity visas<\/a> are\u00a0<\/span>available. These numbers are randomly selected from all visa applicants. This is why the program is also known as the DV lottery.<\/p>\n

Warning Signs of Visa Lottery Scam<\/h2>\n

Scammers often take advantage of the immigrant’s lack of legal knowledge. If you or your family are seeking an immigrant visa through the DV program, it is crucial to stay informed. Scammers are clever and use convincing tactics to trick unsuspecting immigrants. The following are some of the fraud warnings that you can look out for:<\/p>\n